Magnum Moon joins crowd in Tampa Bay Derby prep

OLDSMAR, Fla. – It’s not every day at Tampa Bay Downs that a first-level allowance race comes together like this.

Magnum Moon, with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure from his only start, is part of a terrific group of 3-year-olds trying to prove themselves around two turns in the seventh race on a rare Thursday program here. The one-mile and 40-yard race is designed as a prep for the March 10 Tampa Bay Derby.

Arnaud Delacour will send out the uncoupled Vouch and Talon among a field of eight in the seventh race, which carries a $27,500 purse. First post for the eight-race card is 12:44 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 3:51.

“I think we’re all trying to see if we belong in the bigger races,” Delacour said. “This will be a good test.”

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Magnum Moon, bred and owned by Robert and Lawana Low, announced himself by winning his Jan. 13 debut at Gulfstream Park by 4 1/2 lengths, earning the big Beyer and joining a host of others on the Todd Pletcher shed row at Palm Beach Downs as a Kentucky Derby possibility. The Malibu Moon colt will break from post 8 with Luis Saez keeping the mount.

Pletcher also entered Hyndford (post 2, Jesus Castanon), a last-out winner of a $50,000 maiden-claiming mile at Gulfstream for owner Donegal Racing. Pletcher not only has a wide lead atop the Gulfstream standings, but also has six wins and two seconds from just nine starts at this 2017-18 meet at Tampa.

Vouch (post 4, Pablo Morales), third in the Grade 2 Remsen behind Catholic Boy in his most recent start, was scratched Saturday from the Sam F. Davis for what was supposed to be a far lighter spot. Delacour said the Yes It’s True colt will have to earn his way into the Tampa Bay Derby.

“I suppose it is good that the race came up like this,” he said. “We will know where we are.”

Six of the eight runners are Triple Crown nominees: Vouch and the Pletcher pair, as well as Talon (post 1, Daniel Centeno), Dreamer’s Point (post 3, Brian Pedroza), and Arazi Like Move (post 7, Scott Spieth).

Tampa also will host racing here Thursday, Feb. 22. Along with its odd early-summer dates (June 30 and July 1) maintained for legal purposes pursuant to state regulations, the track is using these two Thursdays to maintain a 91-day schedule. The regular meet ends May 6.